Reversed Potts Shunt Outcome in Suprasystemic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Reversed Potts shunt has been a prospective approach to treat suprasystemic pulmonary hypertension, particularly when medication treatment fails to reduce right ventricular afterload.

Objective: This meta-analysis aims to review the clinical, laboratory, and hemodynamic parameters after a reversed Potts shunt in suprasystemic pulmonary hypertension patients.

Methods: Six electronic databases were searched from the date of inception to August 2021, where the obtained studies were evaluated according to the PRISMA statement. The effects of shunt creation were evaluated by comparing preprocedural to postprocedural or follow-up parameters, expressed as a mean difference of 99% confidence interval. Quality assessment was conducted using the STROBE statement.

Results: Seven studies suited the inclusion criteria which were included in this article. A reduction in upper and lower limb oxygen saturation [Upper limb: St. Mean difference -0.55, 99% CI -1.25 to 0.15; P=0.04; I=6%. Lower limb: St. Mean difference -4.45, 99% CI -7.37 to -1.52; P<0.00001; I=65%]. Reversed Potts shunt was shown to improve WHO functional class, 6-minute walk distance, NTpro-BNP level, and hemodynamic parameters including tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, interventricular septal curvature, and end-diastolic right ventricle/left ventricle ratio.

Conclusion: Reversed Potts shunt cannot be said to be relatively safe, although it allows improvement in the clinical and functional status in patients with suprasystemic PAH. Reversed Potts shunt procedure may be the last resort for drug-resistant pulmonary hypertension as it is considered a high-risk procedure performed on patients with extremely poor conditions.